Building an ecommerce website that can rank above your competitors is no easy task. There are many factors that go into determining how well your site will rank, and if you're not careful, you could easily make a mistake that will hurt your ranking instead of helping it.
In this article, we'll discuss some of the most important things to keep in mind when building your ecommerce website, so that you can start out on the right foot and have a better chance of ranking higher than your competitors.
How to build an ecommerce website
To get you started on the path towards a successful ecommerce website, you just need to follow these nine simple steps:
Pick a website builder that specializes in ecommerce. We recommend Wix, as it currently holds our title as the best ecommerce website builder of 2021.
Buy your domain name from a reputable domain registrar. If it were us, we would pick Domain.com, as it has proven to be a versatile provider that provides excellent value for money. Make sure your domain name includes the name of your ecommerce store - this may sound obvious, but you’d be surprised at the amount of businesses using different names for their domain, which does not help with SEO optimization.
Choose an ecommerce template that is right for you. Luckily, ecommerce website builders often provide a wide range of templates for you to pick from. What’s even better is that most services give you the ability to remove and add features on drag-and-drop templates to make your website dream come to life.
Customize your ecommerce template. This may go without saying, but it’s important to iron out every little detail of your website and add unique touches that make your website stand out. This would be a great time to check out your competition - if you spot something they have missed on their website, take inspiration and add it to yours (if applicable of course).
Add your products to your website. Take vibrant, high-quality pictures of your products and include videos if needed. One of the most important trends in the ecommerce world is the increasing use of mobile devices, so make sure all your product images and videos are mobile-friendly. Product descriptions are also essential to your website, so be sure to include as much information as possible.
Set up payment options. Picking the right payment method will be essential for closing a sale. If your customer does not trust the payment method you’ve selected, they may not complete their purchase. We have a list of the best payment gateways on the market, which will definitely help your decision making process. We recommend PayPal as it’s, hands-down, the most widely used payments platform.
Get your shipping settings right. The key here is to be transparent and thorough. If you are offering shipping for a fee, be clear on the cost, down to the cent. If your shipping will take 3-5 working days, say so. Customers will often use shipping costs and the time it takes for them to receive the item to determine whether they will proceed with the purchase.
Prioritize SEO. Leveraging the best SEO tools is essential for a successful ecommerce website. Where do you want to sit amongst your competitors? How do you rank above your competitors when keywords are searched by potential customers? Other than making your brand name memorable and coherent, investing in an SEO strategy for your ecommerce website is key to success.
Preview, test and publish your ecommerce website. Preview your online store to make sure it looks just as it should when it goes live. Test your ecommerce website to make sure all the buttons are working correctly and directing your customers to the right place - then hit publish and begin promoting!
Some other key tips
To accompany the above advice, here are some other key details to remember if you want to come out on top with your ecommerce website.
- Invest in the best web hosting service for your ecommerce website
- Have a search bar and make it simple
- Have an option for shoppers to make purchase as a guest (some may not want to create a profile)
- Have an option for your customers to subscribe for the latest deals and promotions
- Offer competitive prices. If your prices are too high, potential customers will look elsewhere for better deals
- Make sure all product images are the same size and show the product from all angles
- Provide plenty of product information. Potential customers want to know as much as possible about the products or services they are interested in purchasing. Be sure to provide detailed descriptions, photos, and any other relevant information.
- Set up shopping cart abandonment emails, as life can get distracting, which could cause some customers to forget to complete their purchase
- Make the checkout process simple
Why you need an ecommerce website for your business
In 2020, over two billion people purchased goods or services online, and during the same period, e-commerce sales surpassed $4.2 trillion worldwide, according to data from Statista. In the year of the pandemic, global retail ecommerce sales grew by more than 25%.
That growth is almost guaranteed to continue, and although physical stores are still important, building your brand online is undoubtedly a key tactic for success.
An ecommerce website is an essential tool for businesses that want to sell online. It gives customers a way to browse and purchase products from the comfort of their own homes. And it provides businesses with a platform to reach a wider audience.
How to build a successful ecommerce website with Wix
Creating an ecommerce website can be a daunting task, but with the right platform, it can be easy and fun. Wix is a great platform for creating an online store because it is user-friendly and has everything you need to get started. Follow these steps to create your own ecommerce website with Wix.
First, you will need to create a Wix account. You can do this by going to their website and clicking on the "Create a free website" button. Once you have created your account, you will be able to choose a template for your website. There are many different templates to choose from, so take your time and find one that fits the look and feel of your brand.
Once you have chosen a template, you will need to add your products. To do this, click on the "Add a product" button and start filling out the necessary information. Be sure to include high-quality photos of your products and write compelling descriptions to convince customers to buy from you.
After you have added your products, it is time to set up your payment methods. Wix offers a variety of different payment options, so choose the one that best fits your needs. Once you have set up your payment methods, you are ready to launch your website! Promote your website on social media and other online platforms to start getting traffic and making sales.
Things to avoid when building an ecommerce website
When building an ecommerce website, there are a few things you should avoid if you want your website to be successful.
Not doing your research
When it comes to building an ecommerce website, research is key. You need to know who your target audience is and what they’re looking for. Without this information, it will be difficult to create a successful website.
Not having a plan
Another important thing to avoid when building an ecommerce website is not having a plan. You need to know what you want your website to achieve and how you’re going to achieve it. Without a plan, it will be difficult to make your website successful.
Not investing in good hosting
If you want your ecommerce website to be successful, you need to invest in good hosting. Cheap hosting can lead to a lot of problems, such as slow loading times and downtime. This can discourage potential customers from using your website.
Not promoting your website
Once your ecommerce website is up and running, you need to promote it if you want it to be successful. There are a number of ways you can promote your website, such as through social media, search engine optimization, and Pay-Per-Click advertising.
Not making your website mobile-friendly
With more and more people using their smartphones and tablets to shop online, it’s important to make sure your ecommerce website is mobile-friendly. If it’s not, you could be losing out on a lot of potential customers.
By following the tips above, you can build an ecommerce website that ranks above your competition in search engines! Just remember to choose the right platform, select a great domain name, design a user-friendly site, name and categorize products correctly, and optimize for mobile devices. Do all of this, and you’ll be well on your way to taking your business to the next level.
- If you're looking to create a website on a budget, check out our list of the best free website builders
